All calls to keep Lebanon away from regional clashes seemed once more like a scream in a desert after Okab Sakr’s recordings confirmed ex-PM Saad Hariri is involved in arming Syrian rebels. A month ago, March 14 was criticizing Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria when some of its members were killed there in battles with FSA, just to fall in the same abyss a month later. Even today a March 14 MP blamed Hezbollah of causing increased tension among the Lebanese on the background of Hezbollah members participating in the Syrian war. (more…)

By yesterday evening many aspects of Sassine explosion were already clear, while the overall situation in Lebanon seemed dimmer. It was clear that there wasn’t any small explosion followed by a bigger one à la Iraqi mode. The magnitude of destruction was more comparable to that caused by St. George explosion that killed Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in February 2005. No ordinary political figure was targeted… It was ISF Information Branch chief Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan the one and only target.

Car burning at the explosion site – reuters.

Soon after the explosion took place, and before any news about al-Hassan occurred March 8 politicians accused Israel while March 14 figures said it is Syrian regime exporting terror to Lebanon. (more…)

Nasrallah acknowledges responsibility for launching the drone and justified the presences of Hezbollah members fighting in Syria.

After acknowledging responsibility of the drone downed over al-Naqab last week and claiming its members fighting for “self-defense” in Syria, Hezbollah (and consequently the whole country) is put in the face of two looming wars and an increasing gap between Lebanese religio-political groups. In his speech last Thursday, Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyid Nasrallah claimed he has the right to launch aerial reconnaissance drones over Israel and promised to send more in the future. He also justified the presence of Hezbollah members fighting against rebels in Syria, saying they are protecting their homes. Nasrallah kept for Hezbollah the right of military supporting president Assad whenever suitable.